Dengue fever cases rise in Taiwan
Print Edition
There have been 5,948 cases of dengue fever in Taiwan since May, mostly in the southern city of Tainan, the island’s health authorities said yesterday.
Tainan recorded 5,247 cases yesterday, an increase of 363 since Sunday. Neighboring Kaohsiung reported 609 cases. Far fewer cases have been confirmed in other cities.
A 49-year-old man admitted to hospital on Friday has been confirmed as the fourth case in Taipei. New Taipei has reported 15 cases.
Thirty patients have died — 29 in Tainan and one in Kaohsiung.
Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. It causes headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rashes.
October and November are usually the worst months for outbreaks.
Experts at an emergency meeting convened by the Tainan government at the weekend warned that the situation could get out of control if the government failed to halt the spread of the disease.
Liu Ching-chuan, an epidemiologist from Cheng Kung University, said that although most of the cases are in southern Taiwan, people in the north should not be complacent. Dengue fever can spread quickly with the movement of people and vehicles.
The environmental protection agency in Taipei has increased inspections and is spraying disinfectant around rooftop water tanks and ponds.
Students in Tainan have been required to wear pants instead of shorts to school.
The public have been urged to avoid mosquitoes when traveling in Southeast Asian countries. The island’s disease control center suggested wearing light colored long-sleeved shirts and trousers and using mosquito repellent.
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